Pittsburgh the San Francisco of the East? (Portland: schools, light rail)

[JimboPGH]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Glad to hear you young whippersnappers still study history.

So answer me this Grasshopper: What was his greatest achievement?

Building that observation tower on the Gettysburg battlefield that my buddy and I use to smoke p... never mind.

Take your pick: ending the Korean War, avoiding war with China over Taiwan, diffusing the Suez Canal crises, desegregating the military, building the interstate highway system, managing a broad economic consensus that solidified most of the New Deal policies, secretly undermining Joseph McCarthy, keeping Dick Nixon in his place... and of course, before he became President, leading the Allies to victory over Nazi Germany.

His greatest defeat? Losing to the Carlisle Indian School in 1911 as a starting halfback for Army. But hey, there was no shame in being defeated by Jim Thrope and company.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

I'm all in favor of letting the rest of the world fend for themselves.

We've tried that approach before with disastrous results. Neutrality doesn't necessarily breed peace.

[Yac]

Should I rename this thread "Pittsburgh chat thread 2.0" ? Don't think I won't.
or
some of you could take their off topic discussions to the chat thread and I won't have to spoil your fun.
Yac.

[OyCrumbler]

Does Pittsburgh have a bunch of meditative/yogic retreats in the surrounding mountains and organic farms growing crops from all over the world nearby?

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by slavicamerican

I'm not proposing a gift shop.

I'm asking why there aren't small businesses (think pubs and art galleries and street vendors -- selling nice things) to give people who have ridden the incline something to do and buy once up there. You've brought a group of people to a particular point (which is a good thing), but there is no effort made to engage them or get them to spend money. That's one of the main points of tourism, and tourism is a good thing.

I think the experience as is feels cheap, partly because the top of Mt. Washington seems so dead and dated.

What does the top of the incline and the area around it look like now? Is it this? Anyway of getting rid of or developing on top of that parking lot?

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

I went to Portland, OR for a few days last year and immediately thought "this is the Pittsburgh of the west coast." River running through downtown, major university downtown, incline down to river bank, cool balance of blue collar and intellectual sensibilities everywhere. I wouldn't think to compare Pittsburgh to SF right off the bat mostly due to one being on the ocean, but I do think Pittsburgh is more SF-like than eastern cities that are actually on the coast.

Portland seems like a better comparison. It'd be amazing if Pittsburgh could retroactively force an urban growth boundary so instead of spreading development out further and further into the suburbs and exurbs, the city and closer in older communities had to make do with just doing things better. Also would be great for Pittsburgh to have as good of a light rail system.

[that412]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

What does the top of the incline and the area around it look like now? Is it this? Anyway of getting rid of or developing on top of that parking lot?

I think people earlier were more referring more to the Mon Incline, which is at the other end of Grandview from what you linked. It has Shiloh St at the top, which is home to a plethora of restaurants and shops and bars if visitors could be bothered to walk a block off of Grandview to get to them (there are even little pedestrian wayfinding arrows pointing the way - the idea that there is "nothing at the top of the Mon Incline" is a joke).

The Duquesne Incline has that "restaurant row" at the top that you linked to. Something could perhaps be done with that parking lot, though I'd guess it might get pretty full on the weekends when those restaurants are a hot ticket. But anyway, that Incline is more off the beaten path, being at the far end of Station Square and not as immediately accessible to foot traffic from Downtown or the T.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by that412

The Duquesne Incline has that "restaurant row" at the top that you linked to.

If only the restaurants offered more than just a view.

[Buckeye Burgher]

Originally Posted by that412

The Duquesne Incline has that "restaurant row" at the top that you linked to. Something could perhaps be done with that parking lot, though I'd guess it might get pretty full on the weekends when those restaurants are a hot ticket. But anyway, that Incline is more off the beaten path, being at the far end of Station Square and not as immediately accessible to foot traffic from Downtown or the T.

The area of Grandview Avenue near the Duquesne Incline was long referred to by locals as "Up Front".
It was a thriving little business district with bars, restaurants, banks, a grocery store, candy store, etc.
This was mostly demolished for the ill-fated Trimont development attempted by Christopher Passodelis in the 1980's. The luxury condo tower got built. The replacement shopping and business facilities never did. Primarily because the bank foreclosed on Passodelis when the condos would not sell at their original asking price.

Once again....do NOT let them start mass demolition until you are SURE what is going to replace it.

[that412]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Burgher

The area of Grandview Avenue near the Duquesne Incline was long referred to by locals as "Up Front".
It was a thriving little business district with bars, restaurants, banks, a grocery store, candy store, etc.

I've seen old photos of "Up Front," very sad what happened.

[Goodjules]

Too funny! Look at the answer to "Do you think seasons are overrated?". FLOWCHART: Should You Move to SF? - The Bold Italic - San Francisco